Obituary of Frank D'Andrea, Jr.

Frank H. D’Andrea, Jr., a life long resident of Stamford passed away on March 10, 2017 at the Stamford Hospital with his devoted wife, sisters and a nephew by his side. He fought a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Born in Stamford on May 10, 1931, he was the son of the late Dr. Frank H. D’ Andrea and Josephine Carofano D’Andrea. He attended St. John’s Parochial Elementary School in Stamford and Fairfield College Preparatory School , graduating in 1948. He graduated from Yale College, Class of 1952, and from the Harvard Law School in 1955.

Judge D’Andrea’s legal career spanned more then 50 years, opening his private law practice in 1955. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a founding partner of D’Andrea & Cacace, which continues as Cacace, Tusch & Santagata. In 1993, Gov. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr nominated him as a judge of the Superior Court, and he has served on the bench in Stamford since 1994. Since mandatory retirement age in 2001, Judge D’Andrea continued to conduct court business in Stamford as a judge trial referee until his death.

Long active in bar-related activities, Judge D’Andrea was a past president of the Stamford Bar Association (now known as the Fairfield County Bar Association) and a past president of the Connecticut Bar Association. During his state bar presidency, Judge D’Andrea initiated a state-wide pro bono program for which he received, together with the late attorney Susan Wolfson, the Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award in 1994. The Project now has more then 2000 Connecticut attorneys as participants in pro bono work through the program.

Active in the political life of his native Stamford, he was Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford in 1969-1971 under Mayor Julius Wilensky, chairman of the Stamford Zoning Board of Appeals in 1964-1968; and a member of the Stamford Board of Education in 1961-1963.

Judge D’Andrea has also contributed his time generously to community activities. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Stamford Ferguson Library, Board of Directors of St. Luke’s Community Services, the Stamford Symphony, Aid for the Retarded, and the United Way. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Center of Stamford, and a past president for that organization. In 1992, he received an award from the Italian Center for his “dedication and contribution to the City of Stamford and its Italian Community”. In 1963 he was presented with the “Outstanding Young Man of 1962” award from the Stamford Junior Chamber of Commerce.

At College, Frank had been a coxswain on the Yale Lightweight Crew, and served in that capacity for the New York Athletic Club Crew when that boat won the National eight-oared championship in Philadelphia in the early 1950’s. Frank was also an amateur horseman, exhibiting horses in many major horse shows and was past president of the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association. He was also a former member of the Ox Ridge Hunt Club and of the Stamford Yacht Club.

He is survived by his loving wife, Melanie Massell D’Andrea, two daughters Mary Jo D’Andrea of Norwalk, Marilyn D’Andrea O’Malley (and her husband Brendan) of Norwalk, as well as three granddaughters, Melissa and Katherine Wilkes of Hudson, Ohio and Alison O’Malley of Norwalk. He is also survived by two sisters, Marilyn McLaughlin (and husband Maynard McLaughlin) of Shoreham, VT and Joan Collins (and her husband, Dr. Robert Collins) of Fort Myers, FL. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Michele Wilkes, of Hudson, Ohio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Monday, March 13, 2017 at St Leo Parish 24 Roxbury Rd Stamford, CT. No calling hours will be held. Interment will follow at Long Ridge Union Cemetery, Stamford. In lieu of flowers, donations in Judge D’Andrea’s memory may be made to Stamford Hospital. Arrangements under the direction of Thomas M Gallagher Funeral Home (203) 359-9999. To send on-line condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com